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Reactions, Plans and… Grindelwald?
Jan, 1989, Gringotts – Potter Manor
The next morning she had gone early to the manor, after checking on Harry and seeing he was still sleeping and was alright.
When she came back after getting ready, she had brought the breakfast made by Folksy for them all and showed it to Bloodtooth, who just nodded approving.
"Finally. We are getting hungry here." Harry said as she came into view.
He was sitting upright on his bed. With Tom sitting on the chair next to him.
Anna's brows raised on seeing them like that.
"Wow. I thought you would be so changed that I won't be able to recognize you. And look at you, still acting all bubbly." She said with a smile.
She asked them what happened after she left and Tom told her, as Harry ate his meal, adding things.
Harry had woke in the morning feeling overwhelmed like Anna had said.
"Feels unreal, right?" Tom said.
He had watched him wake and then staring at the wall, lost in thought like he had done himself yesterday.
"Yes. Feels unreal." Harry had replied looking at him curiously.
"You look almost similar to how you looked when you were a child before." He added.
"Oh? And how did you know that?" Tom asked curious himself.
"Dumbledore." Harry answered.
"Or I should definitely call him Bumblebee." He added wryly.
"Dum- Bumblebee? What?" Tom asked confused.
"Well Bumblebee as you would have guessed because its what's Dumbledore's name means or its another name. And Anna uses it for him frequently. Or another favorite of hers is Dumblydore. Madame Maxime used to call him that." Harry said shaking his head.
"Bumblebee had showed me memories of you. That's how I knew about your horcruxes. When he first met in you in the orphanage, later when you asked Slughorn about it, Hephzibah Smith." Harry said looking at him cautiously.
"He destroys everyone he interacts with. Didn't even spared his family." Tom said angrily to that knowledge.
"I wish I had never met him. It would have been better to just live in the orphanage without knowing about Hogwarts." He added.
Then he heaved a sigh.
"But it had been my home still."
"Yes. And for others like you. Me, Snape. Anna too, I guess. I had been so stupid in that life." He said, looking exasperated.
"Yes. You had been. I was the most stupid of us all. But what specific instance are you thinking about?" Tom asked titling his head to the side and putting his cheek on his palm.
"I had snubbed Anna. When she had tried to help me once. Slytherins are after all evil, right?" He said sarcastic.
Tom chuckled.
"I guess. I ruined its reputation, yeah?"
"No. You didn't do it. It was already ruined. You just got the brunt of it. Evil because you could speak to snakes like Slytherin used to. The look on Bumblebee's face when you had said it to him." Harry said laughing.
But then he turned sad.
"He had no right. Children aren't born evil. Unless of course you are a necromancer in a child's body. Though of course not all necromancers are bad. I knew one once. He had hid it from everyone. That he told me at all was so trusting of him."
"And setting your cupboard on fire. If I had been there I would have reaped him one for bullying children like that."
"I can't imagine you standing up for me." Tom said dubious.
"I did stand up for bullied children. Even in that life. I had established a magical orphanage for magicals. And even one for muggles. Though most orphans were adopted, it still remained a shelter for the runaways and others. And I had been a Lord like you once, you know. And I had been able to actually do a good job. Unlike you." Harry said.
"And I can't imagine that as well. Give me the names. Maybe I had heard about you." Tom asked frowning.
"I'm not going to tell you that." Harry replied.
"Why not?"
"I'm not spilling all my secrets." He said rolling his eyes.
"So do you think 'Bumblebee' would be able to identify me? Not many people remember my earlier personality. Maybe McGonagall would. And Hagrid. He would definitely remember." Tom changed the subject.
"Yes. He definitely remembers you as before, but you don't look much similar, just almost. Dumbledore may suspect you, but Hagrid won't, much. And why would McGonagall remember you?" Harry asked confused.
"She was in my year when I went to Hogwarts." Tom informed.
"Oh. Yeah. Of course. She would have been around then." Harry nodded.
"But I don't understand. Why did Du- Bumblebee never told anyone my real identity. It would have been a morale boost right? I was just like them once. Though brilliant than others of course." Tom said mock loftily.
"Of course." Harry smirked.
"I don't know, why he didn't told about you to anyone. He told me of course but I too never thought to tell, about you being a half-blood, to the pure-bloods. It surely would have made them rethink upon their loyalty. If they had believed me of course." He added then, thinking out loud.
"Though I did write a book about your life later. Anonymously. Anna learned about the horcruxes from that book. Piecing together the clues in it. She's damn clever." He continued.
"That she is. She's the first master, right? And got her memories first too." Tom asked.
"Though of course it was so she could carry out Death's task." Harry commented.
"What task?" Tom questioned.
"Well she didn't helped you or me because of the goodness of her heart. Though of course she could have left us alone. And just took over after we had been done with the wizarding world and destroying each other." Harry said thoughtfully.
"Well first, I didn't destroyed you. So-" Tom started trying to defend himself.
"Well, you surely didn't kill me. But the wizarding world was left quite devastated after two wars just decades apart. You killed my parents in the first war and so many others as well. It was the same in the next war. The population of wizards had reduced and they all looked to me when the muggles came after us later. Merlin, I don't want to see that again. And that was when I had told them, I had told them that we shouldn't reveal ourselves. But would they listen, of course not. My own friends wouldn't listen to me why would others do?" Harry ranted.
"'We could coexist with muggles Harry. And we shouldn't call them muggles. Its derogatory. They should be called No-Majs, like they do in America.'" Harry said in a girly voice.
"She was stubborn till the end." He added.
"I guess you are talking about your muggle-born friend. Granger, right?" Tom asked remembering the life.
"Yes. Her. I'm definitely helping Anna in her task." Harry said decisively.
"Which is?" Tom asked him to continue.
"Well like I said she didn't -" Harry started. But was interrupted by Tom.
"-help us out of the goodness of her heart. Yes. I know. She told me herself when I thanked her yesterday for putting together my soul. She said she didn't do it because she is altruistic, that I didn't need to thank her. Though I didn't asked the reason for her help then. So the task Death gave her...?"
"Is that-" Harry started again -
*flashback*
"Is that I have to save the earth. Cause Death doesn't like to create it from scratch again. It sounds silly when I say it like that." Anna said with a huff.
*flashback ends*
"She told you about it like that? 'Death doesn't like to make it from scratch.'" Tom said smiling, laughing as Harry shook his head.
"And you didn't knew about all this?" Tom added.
"She had told me about us both being masters. But I was skeptical. I had said, 'I don't know to believe you or chuck you in an asylum' at that."
They both laughed at that.
"Well I guess, my reaction would have been the same if I had been told before I got my memories. Now you just must be thinking, 'At least all that she said was true'"
"Yes. Now I'm thinking that she was telling me the truth. And I guess I am grateful she decided to help me. Before it was because she changed my life and now also because I gained my memories because of her. Don't know when Death would have given us our memories back."
"Probably after she failed in her task more times. Then he would have to use others right?" Tom suggested.
"Hey, I could have succeeded eventually. Maybe. Or maybe its something we could do together. We need to do together. I had asked Death before to give you all your memories, or at least one of you 4. But no, he wouldn't listen. Said had to make sure it wasn't causing any defects in us. But I'm alright, right? Even with all this lives." Anna said after hearing Tom's words.
Tom had been telling her about his comment on getting their memories back, when she interrupted him.
"I don't know, Anna. I mean you are so eccentric. Like I said no fashion sense. And I have fashion sense. I had been a girl in some lives." Harry said winking at Tom.
Tom got in the act, "Yes. I had been from the fairer sex too. And I have to say your fashion sense leaves something to be desired."
"You only saw me for two days." Anna protested.
"It was enough." Tom shrugged.
"Well. If I had defect then you both are gonna have them too. So there. We will see what happens." She said petulantly.
"But you told me Anna that Death had perfected it after you. So we would probably, definitely be alright. Can't say the same for you." Harry said laughing openly now.
"I just walked into this." She said exasperated.
"And look at you both teaming up against me. Who would have thought Voldemort and Boy who lived, working together." She added.
Both Harry and Tom looked at her unimpressed.
"What? May be I need to just shut my trap so I don't in get such situations." She muttered.
"So not calling you, You know who, He who must not be named, Lordddd Voldemorttttt and you the Boy wonder, the Boyyyyy who liveddddd." She said as if presenting them to a crowd.
Then she looked at them and they still had unimpressed faces.
"You both have lost your sense of humor."
"You had lost it Anna, not us." Harry said doing an aborted eye roll.
"What else did you talk about?" Anna asked throwing her hands up.
"Nothing. You came in then. So what are we doing now?" Harry asked as Tom opened his mouth to speak.
They had actually talked about the task more and how they could help Anna with it. Tom had decided to help her as well. For exchange of her help. And they both had wanted to save the wizarding world in their last lives anyway. It wasn't any different this time.
They also had thought of thinking up some idea, doing something for her to thank her for what she did for them. Altruistic or not, she could have left them be and done the things herself. But she cared enough, so they would show their appreciation. Even if she just helped them to get their help, she even put in more than her efforts. Caring about them. Whatever she said about not being a saint, she did go the extra mile for them so they would reciprocate in kind.
"Uh huh." Anna said narrowing her eyes at them.
Tom had closed his mouth smoothly letting Harry speak.
When they didn't react in anyway, she said with a raised brow,
"I thought we could discuss Tom's back story now. Work out the details, so we could tell them to Bloodaxe and you have to pay for the ritual." She said to Tom.
"Do you have a account in the bank?" She asked.
"No. I don't." He answered.
"Not even after- I guess you couldn't open a bank account in the name of Voldemort. But you could have opened it under an alias." She remarked.
"Didn't thought it necessary. My followers provided money for the cause. And I kept my valuables with them. Or with myself. Though I'm stumped how you convinced the goblins to enter in the Lestrange vault to get my horcrux. Or did you steal it like last time? Isn't Gringotts safest place? Other than Hogwarts of course." He added sarcastic.
"We didn't steal it. We wouldn't be allowed back in the bank if we did. Like Harry and his friends weren't allowed." Anna said.
"We got their permission later. When we returned some of the goblin made articles back to them." Harry replied to her.
"And goblins got the permission by the Lord Black allowing them entry in the vault." Anna answered Tom.
"Of course. Bellatrix would have the higher rank than Lestrange." Tom muttered.
"Now your story." Anna said gesturing to Tom to speak.
"Well. I was thinking of keeping my name Tom and-"
"You don't mind the name?" Harry and Anna asked together.
"Jinx!" They said together.
"Double Jinx!" Together again.
"Padlock Jinx!" Anna finally beat Harry as he started, "Pad-"
"You owe me a coke." Anna said smiling. Harry nodded with a smile.
"Children, Focus. No I don't mind the name. I'm not the same person as I was before, to think the name matters. Though maybe I should change it. We don't want Bumblebee to have a heart attack. With my face similar to how it was before as Harry said." Tom said gesturing to his face.
"We could try Thomas. Tom for short. Or something else entirely. What would you like? Maybe from one of your lives?" Anna asked.
"Hmm...Nicholas." He said after thinking for some time.
"Like Nicholas Flamel. Awesome." Anna exclaimed.
"We could call you Nick for short." She added.
"And what about the surname?" Harry asked curious.
"It doesn't need to be wizarding, though it would have been nice if it was. I could go as a half-blood. Pure-blood mother and muggle father. Like I am."
"Or you could go as the child of a pure-blood father and half-blood mother like me or muggle-born mother like Harry. Still Half-blood, but would have a wizarding surname. Just not known much. Like Summers." Anna suggested.
"Oh. I know just the one. Wynter." Harry said mischievously.
"Ha-ha. We would have half of the seasons with us. Summers and Wynter. Only Spring and Autumn would remain." Anna said sarcastic.
"No. Its brilliant really. The story would fit. The Wynters doesn't have any living family members. So I could be the orphan lost in system." Tom said.
"Like me too." Anna said mock sad.
"But what about your facial similarities with Tom, I mean you. Ah. This is confusing." Anna said frustrated.
"Its only confusing for you. And the mother we could say was the daughter of Tom Riddle's sister." Harry explained.
"You mean Junior or Senior? Cause Tom don't have a sister, do you? Though Senior's sister's daughter would be old. And even he's sister's daughter would be old." She said, indicating Tom.
"Don't make it confusing Anna. And yes. She may be old but not by much and wizards have children at quite old age. As they have longer lifetimes. And we can say she was his half-sister. So she would be Tom Riddle Jr.'s sister, bastard daughter of his father. And her daughter would be Nick's mother. Alright?" Harry said.
"He must have squib ancestors from the father's side to be so powerful, right?" He added.
Anna nodded her head.
"Okay. So we just need the names. And proper documents in the system to make it work. We would just need to do a ritual to-" Anna started.
"-to change his name and create the family tree. We know Anna." Harry informed her.
"Aw. It used to be so good. You would ask questions, confused about something. And I would answer you. Now you know everything." Anna pouted.
Tom, Nick now, just shook his head at their antics.
They discussed the finer details of the story. Harry had gone to Potter manor to find some genealogy books. They searched it for the history of Wynter family. Then after making sure of all details, they performed the ritual.
Tom's blood test after the ritual showed the results -
-x-
Nicholas Leonard Wynter
Blood Status : Half-blood
Mother : Beatrice Wynter née Clifton, Muggle-born.
Father : Leonard Zacharias Wynter, Pure-blood.
Magic Status : Not bound, Not mature.
Ability : Earth Elemental, Animagus, Parselmouth, Healer, Ward-Master.
Affinity : Arithmancy, Curse Breaking, Dark Arts, Defence, Flying, Healing, Legilimency, Magical Creatures, Occlumency, Potions, Rituals, Runes, Transfiguration, Warding.
Inheritances : Wynter family vault.
Family tree :
-x-
"Aiyaa! You are related to Voldemort." Anna said acting shocked on seeing the family tree.
"Though the effect maybe lost on all the wizards. As they don't know his, your real name." She added shrugging.
Harry and Nick just shook their head at her behavior.
"So you would have the Parselmouth ability from the Wynter family?" Anna asked.
"Yes. I'm not going to advertise it any time soon. But if it gets out and someone -Bumblebee- asks then it came from the Wynter family. Since I can't have it from my mother's side. And their is a chance that one of Slytherin's squib daughter's children, married in the family. And so it could have appeared from there in me." Nick said.
Harry left then to add Nick's name in the manor's ward book while Anna and Nick directed his investments. Bloodaxe had said his papers would be ready in two days. They then would have to do some underhanded work to get his records in an orphanage in Southampton, Hampshire. Then get it transferred to Little Whinging. And get him enrolled in the school with them.
His back story -
Nicholas Wynter, an orphan from Southampton, Hampshire, England. He was left there when he was one year old, found in an abandoned house. His birth certificate was found in the house. No signs of his parents or any other family. They weren't able to locate any relatives of him. He ran away from the orphanage at 7 and moved around the country. He finally came to Little Whinging, Surrey when he was 9. There Anna and Harry convinced him to stay in the orphanage there. They accepted him and enrolled him to the local school. Asking for his papers from the orphanage in Southampton.
Orphans come there from outside sometimes, though younger than him. Or left by somebody. So it wasn't unusual for them to take him in. Like they had done for Anna.
They went to the manor after everything was done in Gringotts. Anna thanking Bloodaxe for his help along with Nick.
"We have discussed about your proposal and would soon come to decision about it." Bloodaxe had told her as they parted.
At the Potter manor Nick was impressed by the place. After showing him around, Harry had asked him to choose a room on the third floor.
"Showing so much trust in me?" He had asked astonished.
"We have to start somewhere. You are one of us. Masters of Death. We have to stick together now, right? Though I hope the trust isn't misplaced?" Harry had asked back.
"No it isn't misplaced. And I would prove it to you." Nick answered.
"You know I had thought you be like the civilized version of Voldemort. Sane and all. But emotionally aloof. Won't care much about others. And here you turned out totally different. Though of course I hadn't factored in the Death's master business. Cause I didn't know you were one." Anna, who had been leaning on a wall in the hallway watching them talk, said to Nick.
"So you don't know who others are at all?" Nick asked.
Anna shook her head.
"But you know how many of them are there? 4 others than you?"
"Yes. We are 5 in all. Us 3 and other 2. I don't know them. Though maybe we could identify them. They get the feeling of Deja vu, when they are with us. Or spend time with us." Anna said.
"Or you could ask Death about them." Harry said to her.
"You think I hadn't asked it thousand times before. Baka." Anna said irritated.
"You could also try 'manuke', 'boke' or 'noroma'. They are also found easily on the net." Nick said teasing.
"Hey, I do know Japanese. ~it is just it is the most used word there for idiots~ And man, don't remind me of the net. No-Majs are at least always discovering new things. But I haven't been able to convert the technology in magical version." Anna said.
"Or you could just try to create a neutral field around a electronic device and then use it." Nick said.
"You are a baka too. I have done it that way. But creating a totally magical device would be awesome." Anna said.
"We need to get you some clothes. You can't keep on wearing my clothes. There are still a few days for the holidays to end and the Dursleys would be returning on the day before school starts so we should spend sometime shopping." Harry said.
"Alright. We could go out tomorrow." Nick said looking towards Anna. She nodded her head.
"Did you checked the mail?" She asked Harry.
"Yes. I did. Cato said we couldn't meet Sirius till later. Probably in the Summer holidays. Though they are trying to get a visit early, by saying meeting me would accelerate his recovery. I don't understand, what's the big deal? He was totally fine in the last life. So why are they making such a big deal out of it now?!" He said frustrated.
"Probably Bumblebee trying to convince them you shouldn't be contacted just now. If he isn't all better. Citing some nonsense about of Sirius's mental health." Anna said with a shrug.
"Probably trying to convince Sirius it would better if you stay with your relatives. Under blood wards. Your mothers protection." Nick added wryly.
"Probably trying to cover up his muck up. Knowing boy who lived is neglected by his relatives. As if they care." Harry added.
"Wouldn't they? Or maybe not. Everyone saw you wearing those cast offs all your time in Hogwarts and nobody ever thought to ask you about them. Telling you about your wealth." Anna said remembering the last life.
"I had to found out about it finally from the goblins themselves. Even Ron and Hermione knew. But they thought I already knew and just liked to live wearing those clothes. Sometimes they could be real stupid. Ron had said to me, 'But you always brought new robes for school and even for the Yule ball.' I was just stupid then. I can't blame them when I myself was so idiot, ignorant." Harry said shrugging, disappointed by his life.
"Come on. You need to cheer up. And I know just the recipe. Music." Anna said excited.
She left to get their boom box as Nick looked at Harry with a brow raised.
He said, "Just watch."
Anna brought in a boom box and pressed play-
As the music started playing she too started moving- then dancing to the beat-
"She was more like a beauty queen
From a movie scene –"
She had invited the elves to dance with her and Clunky and Clanky did. They had loved the gift Harry and Anna had given them. There was music playing in the manor most of the time now a days. In the kitchen, outside wherever they worked.
"Come Harry-chan. Its 'Bad'." Anna said. She had closed the curtains, creating colorful lights and was dancing to the music, singing along.
MJ's 'Bad' had started to play.
"But my friend you've seen nothing, Just wait till I get through, cause I'm bad, I'm bad..."
Harry and Nick had just watched her dance with the elves with smiles on their face, but she dragged Harry with her for that song and he laughed as he danced with her. Remembering they had danced on the same song last time.
Then the next song came and she dragged Nick too.
"Ow."
'Smooth Criminal' was playing so-
"Annie are you okay..."
They danced on the songs for a while and then the elves left to get on with their chores and the three went to the library to spend the time reading books.
"Well we don't have to worry about acting like kids. With you around what else could we do?" Nick said teasing.
Anna was still humming the music, on hearing him she said, "You have to act your like your physical age. It gets hard to explain why you're acting so mature otherwise. Though even Bumblebee likes music. I'm sure if he would be allowed, he would too dance on the music."
She saw Nick's sour face and raised her brows.
"I am angry at him too. But you need to control the face. It would give you away. Well you still have got two years. But maybe not. If Sirius takes in all of us, we would be in contact of Bumblebee constantly. Hearing his name. You can't react like that in front of others. And if you are doing it because its just us, then you still shouldn't-"
"Yes. I got it. I need to get in the habit of keeping my reactions under control. Even if I slacked off now, or with only you both, it would get me in the wrong habit. Don't worry. I'm not really the child I look like." Nick said.
Anna just hummed back with a sigh.
"Oh. Happy belated new year both of you. And Happy belated birthday Nick. But maybe we should have changed your date of birth." Anna said thoughtfully.
"It would be better to stick to the truth more. Half-truths, Anna. It would be hard to keep up with the lies and story otherwise. Even with our brains." Harry said.
"Yes. It would be better if we are consistent. And this body was made on that date anyway. Just wrong year. And birthdays have importance in our world." Nick added.
Anna just nodded back.
"Also I wanted to discuss something important with you both." She added.
After she was sure she had their attention, she started, "We are all on equal footing now. Since you two also have the memories of the past lives. So we should make any decisions affecting all of us together. I'm not saying we need to discuss everything, as that would be bothersome. But important things like where to go for school, or if we aren't taken in by Sirius then who will be our guardians, for now, and you got the idea." Anna said.
Both nodded their heads.
Then Harry asked, "'Where to go for school?' Are you thinking of going somewhere else than Hogwarts?"
"Well. As I had said to you. Hogwarts education is sub par and though I don't really need it, I thought I could try something different. Though I had studied in Durmstrang and Beauxbatons and Ilvermorny and few others...Okay. So I have been in different schools but I don't want to go there with Bumblebee there sprouting his nonsense." Anna said putting her head on the table.
"Well we are going be together wherever we go though, right?" Harry asked looking at them both with brows raised.
"Or should we go to different schools? Increase our sphere of influence. I mean not only the magicals in Britain need saving. We could all spilt up?" He added.
They all looked at each other then Anna said, "We need to think about the pros and cons of that."
"Alright so pro - increased sphere of influence, if we get in there from the start then we could influence the ministries to work with us rather than opposing us. Britain don't have much nice reputation in the international politics and Hogwarts is considered sup par by others as well." She said.
"Con - we would be politically weak here. With Bumblebee as the head we wouldn't get much progress done by only one individual, who remains here. I mean I'm the 'Boy who lived' but still I can't do it all by myself. Though I do have most seats in the house." Harry said thoughtfully.
"But you could do it. As you said you have the seats and you are famous. They listen to you... I mean probably will listen when you grow older...Uh, maybe if you showed you are a prodigy form the start...?" Anna finished uncertainly, changing her answers as she remembered the last life.
"If anything I should go out somewhere so I could create a name for myself and not be just famous for a bloody scar and not even listened to." Harry said throwing his hands up.
"Pro - we get to influence the kids in other schools. They too have very basic curriculum like Hogwarts. Some have a few interesting topics like dark arts in Durmstrang and politics, wand lore, alchemy in Beauxbatons. But they don't teach wandless magic. Almost no wizard now a days even feel their magic like we do." Nick said.
"We need to start teaching the kids to use the magic properly. Without wand. Found out about their abilities. Affinity." He added.
"But it would be hard to teach it in the schools with so much restrictions and surveillance on us. Hogwarts would be most difficult as there we would be under Bumblebee's watch and Snape's and McGonagall's. Harry for being him, me for being close to him, you for being close to him and looking similar to...you." Anna finished with a shrug.
"Maybe we should teach them in the holidays. We will teach in school as well but if also do it in the holidays we wouldn't have to hide. And can teach the children from other schools." Harry said.
"Con - staying under the radar. We have to be careful of the ministries. They wouldn't like it if they ever found out that we are teaching kids wandless magic. And if we spread out from the start then we come under scrutiny of more authorities." Nick said.
They discussed more pros and cons about splitting up. But couldn't get any result.
Finally Anna said, "Man, this isn't going anywhere. How about we discuss pros and cons about staying together?"
"Pro - easy access. I mean you know how to step around and you could teach it to us. But still rather than being easy to reach other, if were just together we could cover for each other, and it could be easier to make plans. Have each others back." Harry said shrugging.
"Con - less influence elsewhere. We can't influence others from just staying here. Maybe we both shouldn't even go to school. I mean Harry needs to go but we don't." Nick said.
"But we do need to go. If we just come out of nowhere later, nobody would listen to us. We can't do much until our maturity. I don't want to keep taking aging potions until then. We need to do anything we want like kids. For now." Anna said.
"And we could have some influence outside Britain as well actually. You had asked Bloodaxe about the muggle-borns and squibs in the muggle world because you want to get them to work for you right?" Harry asked Anna.
"Yes. We can have the squibs working in the fields. Make our own food and supplies. In businesses. And the muggle-borns could invent new things. They aren't given jobs by others. We could profit form the magical power they bring. Get them checked for affinity. Also we could even teach them wandless magic. They would be easier to teach than the wizards in the maj world." She said.
"You are right. They would be easier to teach. Cause wizards put limitations on magic. We can teach children new things because they hadn't been set in a way of thinking." Harry said.
"And muggle-borns aren't force fed 'magic has limitations' from childhood. And even though they are taught like that in school they could be convinced to try other ways to use magic." Nick finished nodding.
"And just like this we could contact the people from other magical communities. Find squib and muggle-borns from other countries and offer them work as well. Half-bloods and muggle-borns make most of our numbers anyway. So we could start with them, then others." Harry said.
"Though it would have been great if we could have found Atlantis or Avalon first. We could just start building a community there. Of course we would need to get it warded like Fort Knox first. And get it so that we won't be able to be ever found out by the muggles. And we would need to find if we could even all be able to live there. If the place is too small, it won't be of any use." Anna said, blowing out a breath.
"Cause even space-" she was going to continue but Nick interrupted.
"Space expansion charms aren't effective. We know. Its important to have a sound foundation or it would all collapse on itself."
"Maybe we should remain together and concentrate on finding the paradise first." Harry said.
"Hmm... Paradise… Can't we make our own?" Nick said.
"Like find a place or an island and just turn it into a paradise ourselves?" Anna asked.
"Yes. I haven't tried it ever." Harry said.
"Me neither." Nick said.
"Well you didn't need to. But I had tried. Though at the time I had tried to save magicals and muggles both. And fights had started again..." She trailed off.
"I had been such an idiot then. Why didn't I ever think of it then?" Anna said shaking her head.
"That you should have tried it with only magicals? Isn't it obviously obvious?" Harry asked.
"Well. Now it is. And I have tried to do in last life when I was still trying to save everyone. This is first life I have been trying to save only majs."
"And it took you how many lifetimes to find that destruction of magic is cause of the destruction of earth?" Nick asked with a raised brow.
"A few." Anna said looking away.
"And how did you became a master of Death?" Harry asked incredulous with her.
"I'm not telling you that." She replied.
"But you were searching for Atlantis and its an island. So why can't we make our own now?" Nick asked.
"The magic of the place. Last two time I have tried to save the people by living on an island it sank in the ocean, from the weight I guess. So rather than making our own island if we found Atlantis the magic of the place may help give us a sound foundation to work off of. And the magical community is large. We can't just use any island or place. Maybe we could find a valley though. No. It won't work." She said disappointed.
"So an island can sink. A valley could be flooded. It would be difficult to inhabit the mountains. Plains would be easily attacked." Nick blew out a breath.
"But don't the magical places have dangers too? The magic of the place could run out-" Harry said.
"No it wouldn't. Gaea would always keep providing the magic." Anna said.
"But it could flood because of the magic?"
"It won't. Cause we would keep using the magic. Thus keeping it flowing in a cycle."
"Or other natural calamities could affect it? Floods in the valley, sinking of the island, volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunami- just like a place we would make-" Harry said.
"Yes, I got it. But the magic of the place could help us make defences against it. Unlike if we tried to make the place ourselves. Like for example take Hogwarts. The place is saturated with magic. It is due the majs that had all lived there but also because the place itself is magical. Even if the founders made the school, the actual grounds too provided magic to it and it has become sentient now. Well almost. She still can't converse with us."
"Are you serious? Hogwarts is really sentient?" Harry asked.
"Yes. Didn't you two ever realized it?" Anna asked looking towards there astonished faces in confusion.
"Think about it guys. She must have helped you in your times of need. The room helps the people most in need. The elves listen to her you know. And the ghost too can hear her. I mean she can't really talk. But they can somewhat understand the signs." She explained.
"And its safe? I mean when you are saying sentient I think about the AI muggles create to help them save in those movies turning against them cause the humans are unsafe for themselves and humanity. Some bullshit." Harry said rolling his eyes.
"Well. They are just movies. Muggles definitely didn't create anything like that in my lives." Anna said looking at him in exasperation.
"And Hogwarts being sentient is totally safe. She doesn't care about the others but the children under her care. And as long as nobody does anything to harm them she doesn't interfere with our lives." She added.
"You are right about that. She had helped Neville and others in that life, when the Carrows had made their lives hell inside the castle." Harry said thinking about it.
"So you see. The places have magic. Of course not the grounds themselves would ever turn sentient. But they supply magic to the buildings built upon them. The schools are built upon the Ley-lines, they call it. Many manors are also built on these lines. And the historic places like stone-henge are found on this lines as well." She finished.
"You are right. They are built along those lines. But we would have to leave all this buildings behind. Or could we actually transfer them to the place we found? We need to find a place first though." Nick said.
"I haven't, in my lives, ever found a clue about these places. Some of my lives we had tried to search for various mystical places. But never found any such thing. Though there are some which were close. The Amazons have a place. Protected deep inside the jungle. Its hard to reach. But we could search for it. But I don't think its large enough." Harry said.
"Or the islands named 'mysterious' by the muggles. Or the islands in the Bermuda triangle. They are small too. Atlantis wouldn't be proper for our needs Anna. It is an island. Its better to be inland than in the waters." Nick said.
"Yes. I was thinking that too. Avalon was an island too. Some even link it with Atlantis. I think a magical valley still would be better. Even with the chance of it flooding. Most successful civilizations before had started in valleys. Because of all the resources. Water, safety from the sides by the mountains. And we could conceal it and the magic of the place. And Atlantis had said to be sunk in the ocean. Maybe we should consider finding a place inland." She thought out loud.
"The Russians. I have heard about it there once, you know. The region there is so vast but uninhabitable. They had created a dome which surrounded the settlement. Controlling the weather inside. The Himalayas have mystic places. And the Shangri La in the Kunlun mountains." She added.
"We should search inland then, instead of searching in the ocean." Nick said decisive.
The other two nodded together.
"So we remain together and search for a place, a magical place inland. And increase our influence by starting with the muggle-borns and squibs first, with the help of goblins." Harry said.
The other two nodded at him, then Anna said somewhat hesitating, "So you know how I said I don't know who the masters are but we could identify them?" Anna said slowly.
Nick gestured her to go on.
"So I think I know one another who could be a master." She said.
The other two glanced excitedly at each other.
"I realized it after I found out you were a master actually." She said gesturing towards Nick.
"You mean when you realized someone like me could be a master?" Nick said clarifying.
"Hey. I'm no saint. So someone like you is already a master." Anna said.
"I'm not a good person either Anna. He's asking about someone powerful like him. In this time period. Are you talking about Dumbledore?" Harry asked cringing now.
"No. I'm talking about another powerful figure who's still alive." Anna tried to hint.
"Who...? Grindelwald! Are you kidding me?!" Harry exclaimed.
"It fits. It seems almost all the masters knew about each other in this timeline. I mean in the past. I didn't think about it until now. But you knew about them both. And me. And also must have had contact with the 5th. To-Nick had interacted with you, Grindelwald, me and maybe even the 5th master. We all were known figures. Granted I wasn't known here but I settled outside of Britain. Fed up of the majs here. But I was known where I settled in America. The 5th must be known somewhere as well." She said.
"And the spirits. We all had been in contact with them. Even if it was fleeting. But they too were around. So I think we need to think about the influential figures from then." She finished aloud, after muttering to herself.
"Why would this all be related? It seems too farfetched Anna. And according to your account, it could be argued Bumblebee is also one." Nick said.
"No. I asked Mort about him. He definitely isn't one. We could ask him about Grindelwald to confirm our, 'my' suspicion." Anna suggested.
"You said he didn't tell you about the others." Harry questioned.
"Still he could confirm anyone I asked him about. I knew about you being a master like that. Of course I can't go around saying everyone's name. He won't respond then. I had tried it." Anna said shrugging sheepishly.
"And I should have realized about you as well. He had given me an example of yours, among others, when we had a fight and I had said I would just tear my soul and remain on earth, so he doesn't need to send me back." She finished in a mutter.
"You said that to him." Nick stated flabbergasted.
"I was tired of living the lives. I wanted peace. Of course after I said that he replied, 'You won't ever get peace if you did that. In your life or after it.' Then gave your examples. You didn't scratch the surface, you know. There were horrible people than you. They think now that you were horrible making 6 horcruxes. But there were others. One had torn the souls of others binding them together to serve him forever." Anna said with disgusted face.
"How could tear another's soul?" Harry asked flummoxed.
"Well. If both the people are doing it voluntarily then its alright. You know the term 'soul mates' could be used for it. They tear their souls but not by killing but sacrificing themselves. And then get it molded together. Each would have the half of other. I only know of one who did that. And I think they are the only ones. And they have voluntarily joint their souls together again so Mort didn't have anything against it. As the soul gets whole in the end." She informed.
"But you could tear another's soul that way involuntarily as well. Of course you would get punished for it when you die and are brought before Death." She said.
"That's why Death gave you a chance. You tore your soul, but not others'. Though of course you shouldn't have ever done that as well. But you fall short of the ultimate horror, I guess." Anna added looking at Nick.
"I had only been ever afraid, genuinely afraid, terrified of him then. He was so angry at me. Hadn't talked to me, even regarded me in any way for quite a few lifetimes." She said reminiscing.
"Why didn't you just become a vampire or make a philosopher's stone to remain on earth? Stay alive. If you didn't want to live and die and live again." Harry asked.
"I had tried that. But I wanted the peace of heaven. 'If he wasn't giving me that then I should just stay forever on earth', I had thought. I learned about the horrors of tearing your soul after that, from the workers. Of course I had realized, knew at some level, when I said it, that it was wrong. But it was said in a fit of anger. That's why I don't like fights and am scared of getting angry. You say all the wrong things. As if I hadn't already realized that in my lives." She said sarcastic.
"So you are on good terms now though...?" Harry ventured.
"It was long time ago. Eons ago, you could say in terms of human time. I was a 'rookie' then. Didn't knew much. I learned as I got older. We settled it. The fight. And now I always think before I talk. Most of the time." She added with a smile.
But then turned serious and said, "Arguments may be healthy in a relationship they say, but not fights. I hate them. And so, try to never get angry. Anger leads to fight. I never try to do anything in anger. Would rather be silent then. I say horrible things when I'm angry." She said moving her hands through her hair.
"We all are stupid when we are angry." Nick said giving her compassionate smile.
"And you are ancient Anna!" Harry added with a teasing smile.
"I mean 'eons ago'! For how long are you doing this?" He added.
"The fight was after I had been frustrated in the first few lives, when I had been unable to save the earth. As I told you I had lived many, many lifetimes before Mort gave me the task. I had been ready for some peace then. But I got a purpose to go back. So I did. But I got l frustrated early. And took it out on him, I guess. We had patched up after that. I had apologized to him. Begged for his forgiveness for my thoughtlessness. After that fight, I learned about the dictum. No messing around with soul. Even the couple asked if they could do it before they tried it and did it." She finished.
"So he had said one of his masters was on ultimatum because of it. I didn't realize that it could be you but I should have." She said shaking her head frowning.
"So you think Grindelwald really is one?" Harry asked raising a brow.
"We could try asking. He doesn't put restrictions on the number of time I could ask. But I can't just sprout the names. I had to give reasons, like genuine reasons. For you I had said that you had mastered the hallows and was powerful, even if not at your full potential. And for Bumblebee well he is powerful, and had also had all the hallows at one time with him even if not together. And though I wasn't sure about him, they were genuine reasons. He told me Bumblebee isn't even a spirit. He cares about others. But is going the wrong way in helping them. He needs a long time to learn." She said blowing out a breath.
"And what reason are you going to give him?" Harry asked.
"Well he may have mastered the hallows or did you became a master by outwitting him?" She asked looking towards Nick.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" He teased.
At their expected faces he said, "I'm not going to tell you. You gave Death the reasons, but he didn't confirmed them, did he? He just confirmed that they were masters or not. So Harry could have been a master because of something else he's done. And not just collecting the hallows. And you could use the hallows even if you didn't become a master by collecting them. He didn't you tell you this, did he?" He asked mischievously.
"No. He didn't." She pouted.
"Well of course I don't actually need them. And it would be useless for me to collect them. And others would need to collect them to enter the competition." She added with a shrug.
"So you didn't become a master by collecting the hallows?" She asked Harry.
"Maybe. Maybe not." He shrugged with a crooked smile.
"Alright. I'm not telling mine so you could keep mum." Anna shrugged back with an aborted eye roll.
The other both smirked at each other.
"So the reason. He's powerful- Maybe that's getting old." She said with a grimace.
"But still true. And he also had the hallows. At least one of them. But had also terrified Europe. Though got second spot on the list because he came later." Harry said indicating Nick.
"And they say he is showing remorse now. Well Bumblebee told me that people had said that he had shown remorse later in his life. That would be around now right?" He added.
"Hmm. That could be one of the reasons. Remorse. Understanding. Powerful." Nick shrugged.
"But he's in a terrible condition now. Could we really help him?" He added dubious.
"We need to just get him a new body like you." Anna said.
"We can't do that for anyone. It is the most impossible task done by the necromancers. They could do it. But they don't, they can't cause..." Harry trailed off.
"You need permission of Death? Like we asked for him?" Anna finished.
"Or according to them, you need the permission of Thanatos or maybe the Grim Reaper. They, the necromancers, could talk to Death's workers. Death's forms, after all." Anna said.
"So we could do it. If he confirms that 'he' is master too. And gives us permission to do it." Nick said.
Anna nodded.
"I have still something to learn I guess." Harry said smiling towards Anna.
"You just forgot that we did bring him back like that." Anna shrugged gesturing to Nick.
"And it would only happen if he was Death's master. I had tried it for To-Nick because I thought Mort would surely help me get his soul together. The necromancers never try it for any other reasons cause he won't give permission. People get old, then they die." She said.
"So you are right about it not being able to be done for anyone and it being an impossible task." She added.
They then decided to leave the topic alone for then, as it was time for dinner and went to the kitchen where Folksy had made a delicious meal and just talked about other inconsequential things.
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A/N: Are you liking the story so far? Is it going very slow? Want them to be in Hogwarts already? Do review and leave your comments. Also Please Fav and Follow. The next chapter is going to be an interlude. And guess who are you going to meet? Again Please Review. Hoping for some response, Novarkek.
P.S.: Songs Mentioned, 'Billie Jean', 'Bad' And 'Smooth Criminal' By MJ.